#9
Robert Schotman

Rider bio

"When my father was young he had a scooter and later he also bought a motorcycle. For 3 years he raced in an amateur cup. He stopped when he crashed badly on the road. When I was 5 years old he put me on a pocketbike and from that moment on I 've been interested in racing."

"I do all my race activities with my father. Together we go to races. My mother and sisters join us sometimes but have many other interests to spend their free time on as well. My father is still important for me. He coaches me and helps me to experience racing in a way that it stays interesting and challenging for me. He taught me the basics of racing. Teaches me other aspects like sponsorship etc. But most important, if a race result is not as expected, we always manage to find improvements together."

"My best race ever was in 2013 in the European Moriwaki 250cc junior cup. I started on the front row from 3rd. In a group of 4 riders we managed to pull away from the rest in the early stages of the race. Then we fought hard with lots of overtaking and slipstreaming, racing at top speed. Seeing the skills of the opponents I managed to form my final lap tactics, which worked out fine. I started the last lap at the back of the group and managed to overtake two riders after the straight and just in the last corner I could also overtake the front runner. I won the race. Top speed racing and staying in focus during a race fight, forming different tactics brings for me the real fun factor in racing."

"I like technical tracks best. Those in which you have combinations of corners which demands extra focus on the best race lines. But also high speed tracks and blind corners and differences in heights. All exciting stuff offering extra possibilities for close racing and overtaking, so thrilling races."

"Satisfaction for me comes from getting the best results as a team. Preparing the bike for me in the best set-up and making a good fight with other riders is always challenging but brings me great pleasure when I win that fight. No matter whether it is for the first or fifth place, if I had a good fight, I'm happy. If I win the race I will be even more happy.

Away from the bike Robert is just as sure what he likes. "When I am not racing I like gaming, reading, doing sport and being with friends. At school I like the subjects chemistry and physics. Overall I mostly like the technical part of school above the languages.

His racing heroes are Valentino Rossi, Jack Miller, Wayne Tessels and Gerry Verhoeven. "I want to be World Champion," he says simply. In the Rookies Cup I've learnt very much about the handling of a KTM Moto3 bike in dry and wet conditions. Also I learnt a lot about how to work with the team and explain what's wrong or right about the bike. My riding skills improved during the season and I came close to the top 10."

The penultimate race in Aragon with the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup was my best race of 2014. It didn't start very good though as I stalled the bike at the start of the warm-up lap. After we started up the engine I could do my warm-up lap but I had to start the race from the last position. However the race turned out to be very good for me. I had a good start and already after 5 laps I was in a group which was battling for 10th position. Two riders managed to get away leaving me and 3 others fighting for 12th position. After a hard and exciting battle I managed to stay in front of the group and finish 12th.

"This year I want to finish every race inside the top 10, during the season I hope to make the step towards the top 5 so I can create the opportunity to become a podium contender.

Career Highlights

2014

19th Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. Best result 10th in Race 2 at the Sachsenring. Though he did not set the world alight in his first Cup season his intelligent consistency and progress showed his potential.1st – Wild Card Moriwaki 250 Junior Cup at Assen1st – Wild card ADAC Junior Cup at Assen